By Matt DeVries / @DeVries_Matt
When Corey Seager donned a Great Lakes Loons uniform in 2013, there were lofty expectations for the teenager from North Carolina. Now, after making his major-league debut in 2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers prospect is being tabbed as one of five hitters who could have a breakout season.
“Seager’s time in the big leagues at the end of the 2015 season was brief, but he proved himself more than capable of handling big league pitching. He batted .337/.425/.561 in 27 games (113 plate appearances). Obviously, Seager isn’t going to post numbers like those, as big league pitchers will eventually figure him out a bit. But his fluid-yet-compact left-handed swing doesn’t seem to have many flaws.”
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Before getting the promotion to High-A Rancho Cucamonga three years ago, the 21-year-old was hitting .309/.389/.529 with 12 HR and 57 RBI in the Midwest League. After playing for the Rookie-level Ogden Raptors upon being drafted in the 1st Round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft, it was his first full season in professional baseball.
“Seager is currently ranked as MLB.com’s No. 2 prospect, and it’s easy to see why. Regardless, he won’t keep that title for very long — because he won’t be considered a “prospect” for very long. The Dodgers are ready to hand Seager the keys at shortstop, and he already appears to be the favorite for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.”
Back in November, Steve Dilbeck of the LA Times wrote that, “if Seager is as successful as expected, he should prove a centerpiece for the Dodgers for many years to come.”
When you hit .337/.425/.561 in your first 27 games and 97 at-bats as a big leaguer, success certainly seems to be on the not-so-distant horizon for you.
Cassavell and Dilbeck might be on to something.
